Govt taps youth pageant to drive climate awareness in eastern Uganda

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The Ministry of Water and Environment has adopted a youth-focused approach to environmental advocacy by using the Miss Climate Change platform to mobilise young people to champion conservation and climate action.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives (ATEI), was showcased during the Miss Climate Change Eastern Region auditions held at Mount Elgon Hotel in Mbale city on Sunday (March 15).

Twenty-three contestants participated in the auditions, with three emerging as winners who will represent the eastern region at the national competition.

The activity formed part of the regional build-up events leading to the annual Uganda Water and Environment Week, a national platform aimed at promoting sustainable water resource management and environmental protection.

Bismac Moses Amumpaire, the executive director of Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives, told New Vision that the Miss Climate Change concept was developed as a creative strategy to involve young people in environmental advocacy.

“We conceived the idea of Miss Climate Change awareness about three years ago as a platform to promote environmental protection,” Amumpaire said. “Although the concept started earlier, we only began implementing it nationally last year.”

He explained that the programme initially focused on participants from the central region but has since been expanded to other regions to broaden youth participation.

“Last year, most of the contestants were from the central region. This year, as we prepare for the Uganda Water and Environment Week, we partnered with the Ministry of Water and Environment to extend the initiative to different regions so that more young people can participate,” he said.

Angella Mutesi, the winner of the Eastern Miss Climate Change, and the runner-up contestants pose for the photo during the function at Mount Elgon Hotel.

Eng. Maximo Twinomuhagi, the team leader of the Kyoga Water Management Zone in the Ministry of Water and Environment, said the initiative seeks to transform contestants into climate ambassadors who can drive environmental awareness within their communities.

He noted that the activity was incorporated into the Eastern Region Water and Environment Week celebrations as a way of attracting youth interest in climate issues.

“We have been commemorating the Eastern Region Water and Environment Week as a precursor to the national Uganda Water and Environment Week,” Twinomuhagi said. “This year, we included the Miss Climate Change activity because it is an important milestone in expanding youth participation in environmental matters.”

Eng. Patrick Okotel, the eastern regional team leader for the Water Production Department, said the programme aims to position beauty ambassadors as influential voices in climate communication.

“Through this activity, we are planting seeds of hope for the next generation by empowering young people to actively participate in climate action,” Okotel said.

He added that the Miss Climate Change platform will strengthen climate communication by combining youth leadership, advocacy and community engagement.

According to Okotel, the contestants will participate in environmental campaigns, community outreach programmes and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting sustainable environmental practices.

“The intention is to ensure that climate action becomes a shared responsibility, especially among young people who will play a critical role in protecting the environment for future generations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the winners pledged to use their titles to advocate for environmental protection and climate awareness within their communities.

Angella Mutesi, who emerged as the overall winner for the eastern region, said the platform would enable her to expand her climate advocacy initiatives, particularly among young people.

“I am excited to have emerged among the top three contestants,” Mutesi said. “This opportunity will help me strengthen my initiatives and provide a larger platform to promote climate awareness among the youth and in schools.”

Violet Mary Asege, the first runner-up, said the platform had allowed her to highlight environmental challenges affecting communities in the Teso sub-region.

“We have had our share of climate change challenges in Teso and their negative impacts. I hope to use the skills I have gained from this platform to help transform our communities as young people,” Asege said.

The winners of the eastern region competition are Angella Mutesi from the Busoga sub-region, Violet Mary Asege from the Teso sub-region and Gloria Chebet from the Sebei sub-region.

The trio will compete with other regional winners from across the country for the national Miss Climate Change title.